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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Basil Hayden’s
Comparing Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Basil Hayden’s is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (90 vs. 80).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$38 – $45 ~$9 less |
- Basil Hayden’s does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
oak 5/3 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
heat 3/2 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
- Basil Hayden’s: Built on the high-rye Old Grand-Dad mash but bottled at just 80 proof, which makes it the lightest thing in the Beam range by a distance. Peppery and herbal, but very thin — the price reflects the packaging more than the liquid.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series with more proof behind it.
- Go with Basil Hayden’s if you want an unusually light, peppery, low-proof pour and you do not want any weight in the glass at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).